Starting off just after the town of Arthurs Pass you will arrive at the Temple Basin Parking lot. If the gear lift is running you can put your gear on there before starting the journey up to the ski hill. Going up numerous switchbacks the terrain will finally mellow out in the upper basin where the lodge is located.

From Temple Basin Lodge you can take the first nutcracker which drags you to the upper traverse where you need to take your board off and walk over to the second nutcracker. If you are not using a lift ticket you can just hike but make sure to stay off to the side not to both people who are riding down.

After being dragged up the second rope tow you will be just below Temple Col. If you didn’t buy a lift ticket you can hike up near the lift but make sure to be far enough away not to get in the way of people. Once at the top of the chair start descending to the skiers right until arriving at the base of of a southwest facing chute. Now it is time to climb the up a small chute to gain the southern ridge of Mount Temple which is relatively easy until arriving on the summit.

Once on top strap on your board and ride down the southwest slopes which forms a semi open chute that descends all the way into the basin. The terrain lower opens up and you need to start traversing back to the nutcracker. Either you can get a lift back to the upper slopes where you need to traverse back down to the lodge or you can just walk along the lower travers which both bring you back to the lodge. Now it is time to drop your gear off at the gear lift and walk back down to the parking lot.

For more pictures and the full story check out this link https://www.whereiskylemiller.com/new-zealand/temple-basin-splitfest-2014/